Geography: Shaped like a boot kicking into the sea, bordered by the Alps on the north, with serene lakes and rolling hills in between, while also staking claim to nearby islands as well, Italy packs a diverse punch of a landscape offering multiple holiday experiences in one visit.

Time Zone: GMT +1

How’s the weather? About as varied as the terrain. Cooler temperatures prevail in the summers up north, moving to wintry sporting conditions in the winter while the central part of the country remains temperate to hot year-round. In the south, you’ve got your beautiful balmy weather, highlighted by blissful heavier sunshine in the summer.